Laura Ness: Women strut their Napa style at Vine show

Wonderfully, the world of wine is increasingly being made magical by women. You would be surprised to learn how many women winemakers are behind the significant brands you'll find on your store shelves and even more delighted to find how many are squarely behind elite, exclusive labels that will blow your mind.

I've always had a fondness for wines made by women winemakers, including Milla Handley of Handley Cellars (Anderson Valley, Mendocino) and Pam Storrs (Storrs Winery, Santa Cruz) and have followed the careers of stars like Alison Crowe and Jaime Dowell, both of whom did Randall Grahm Time at Bonny Doon Vineyards and have subsequently branched out to do their own thing.

Jaime is at Napa's tony and way popular Alpha-Omega, and Alison is with Garnet Vineyards, a brand that focuses on Monterey, Sonoma Coast and Napa grapes to produce value wines that really rock.

It's a rarity to attend a function where so many female wine luminaries are in attendance on both sides of the tables, but that's what Women of the Vine's Grand Tasting Event, held on International Women's Day, March 8, at The Meritage in Napa Valley, was all about.

Presented by MORE Uncorked magazine and Women of the Vine, a collaboration of award-winning winemakers and sustainable grape growers, the event was the brainchild of founder and writer Deborah Brenner, who wrote the book "Women of the Vine: Inside the World of Women Who Make, Taste and Enjoy Wine."

Among the wines that were really impressive were Pam Starr's Crocker & Starr 2013 sauvignon blanc from the estate vineyard in St. Helena. Flowing with flavors of citrus orchard, crisp pineapple, lime zest and tangerine peel, this wine is simply electric. Her estate cabernet franc is brilliant, too.

Elizabeth Spencer's ExS 2012 sauvignon blanc, made from Mendocino fruit, is lovely and most certainly Elizabethan in every sense of the word. This is a crisp, citrusy and richly white peachy and minerally wine.

Heidi Barrett's La Sirena Moscato Azul, made from Muscat Canelli, is off the hook in the "highly interesting" department. It starts off with a deceivingly sweet nose and then kicks you in the teeth with its true to the grape's sassy inner core. A lot like the winemaker! She kept saying, "No, it's not sweet! It is not a dessert wine!" The beautiful blue bottle matches the color of the mermaid on her label.

Mari Wells Coyle, consulting winemaker at David Girard Vineyards, has her own label. Her fantastic 2012 Coda Blanc, a deliriously delicious blend of every Rhone white, displays huge ripe melon, white fig, starfruit, lush lime and star anise. The finish is languidly rich and tropical yet still light on its feet.

Alison Crowe's Garnet Vineyards wines are truly exceptional, both for their site typicity and their succulent price points. She was pouring both a 2012 Monterey pinot and a 2012 from the Sonoma Coast. I thought they would be more similar, but that was not the case. The Monterey pinot is so much brighter and lovelier, with a great balance and inherent richness that comes from the incredible intensity of fruit and not the oak. You can find it in the retail market for around $14 or less per bottle, and it's a screwtop. Has a fetching garnet jewel on the label. Pretty nice stuff!

GIFFT Wines Launched

Fittingly and thematically in accord, Scheid just announced a partnership with Kathie Lee Giffords for a new brand of wine called GIFFT, a 50/50 partnership with Scheid Family Wines, crafted from the company's Monterey estate vineyards. GIFFT debuts with a 2012 Estate Grown Chardonnay and 2011 Estate Grown Red Blend, both priced at $20/750ml.

"It's well documented that I am a wine lover," said Kathie Lee Gifford, "so when I started talking to the Scheid family about making a wine, it felt like the most natural thing in the world. I wanted to create wines I would want to drink and serve to friends in my home - an elegant Chardonnay like those I tasted in California in the 1970s and an easy-drinking yet balanced Red Blend.

"And who better to make them with than the Scheids, who have more than 40 years of experience?"

SLH Trade Tasting at Quail on Tuesday

I'm looking forward to the trade tasting tomorrow at Quail Lodge, where the Santa Lucia Highlands Artisans will showcase their wares. There is always such a big turnout for these trade tastings that it is almost impossible to visit all the wineries that come to pour. I'm hoping to visit the ones I missed at the last trade tasting in San Francisco.

Gourmet Fest kicks off Thursday

It's not too late to get tickets, and some special packages exist for dinners and lunches, so head to gourmetfest.com/tickets to peruse the deliciousness.

Comics for Kids with Michael Feinstein

The 21st annual Comics for Kids Auction is happening once again in the luxurious Pebble Beach Food & Wine Grand Tasting Tent at 5:30 p.m , Saturday. This gala benefit for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Monterey County includes a cocktail reception, a silent auction and three exclusive opportunity drawings followed by a dinner and live auction.

For more than 20 years, guests have experienced the best comedic entertainment by some of the nation's most enjoyed and well-known comedic talents. This year, not only will guests be entertained by our youth and an outstanding comedic talent, Robert Dubac, they'll be dazzled by one of the nation's most recognized entertainers, Michael Feinstein.

To find out more about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Monterey County or Comics for Kids, contact Jennifer Ramras Sardina at 831-394-5171, Ext. 243, or via email at jsardina@bgcmc.org.

Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival

Some amazing seminar slots still remain, along with tickets for the always over-the-top Lexus Grand Tastings on Saturday and Sunday, so visit pbfw.com to sign up for your incomparable culinary adventure. I wouldn't miss it.

'Spring Forward' gala in Santa Cruz

The Santa Cruz Cancer Benefit Group will hold its 19th annual Spring Forward Against Cancer Gala on April 12 at the Cocoanut Grove Ballroom in Santa Cruz.

It starts at 5:30, and tickets are $150 per person. Catering is by Barbara & Co.

For information, call 831-465-1989 or visit SCCBG.org.

'For the Love of Rye' at Highlands Inn

Hankering for something mellow in the cocktail department? Sign up for A Taste of Rye and Whiskey at the Highlands Inn, part of their Forks. Corks. Action! series.

This unique comparative tasting of three whiskeys under the Knob Creek label includes sips of Knob Creek Bourbon, Knob Creek Rye and Knob Creek Single Barrel Select.

Cost is $35 per person inclusive, and it goes from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 16, including preparation of three cocktails along with small bites. Tickets: http://bit.ly/PVKPHU

Shoch Dairy At Holman Ranch

If you love cheese, be sure to cozy up with Shoch Dairy and its farmsted cheeses at Holman Ranch at 6 p.m., Tuesday, April 29 at the Holman Ranch Carmel Valley Tasting Room.

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Laura Ness: Women strut their Napa style at Vine show

Wonderfully, the world of wine is increasingly being made magical by women.